Most of us make resolutions to eat better, exercise more, or some other health related thing, but as parents, the new year is also a great time to reflect on our jobs as moms and dads and see how we can improve.

For some parents it may be to spend more quality time with their children. Others may need a little help in the patience department. My parenting resolution is to let my girls become more independent by a) backing off a bit and letting them try new things, even if I’m afraid they might get hurt and b) giving them more responsibility.

Here are what some other Barista parents want to improve, or do, in 2012:

“Getting the kids more involved in jobs around the house and volunteer work outside the house.” ~ Liz George

“I’m going to use my “indoor voice” more often – the screechy thing isn’t working out for me. And I vow to let them get more messy when we’re doing crafts. Just a little more messy.” ~ Kristin Wald

“This winter I would like more quiet one on one sitting time with my kids. Playing games, doing puzzles and watching movies together.” ~ Holly Korus

“To listen more to them. I tend to be too busy with chores/internet and ignore them after school, o to play more with them.” ~ Lisa Davies

“My parenting resolution for 2012 is to finally — after planning, dreaming and saving for five years — take a family trip to Europe. The cost has always scared us off, but with our kids at the perfect traveling age (8 and 12), it’s time to seize the moment.” ~ Carolyn Maynard-Parisi

All great resolutions. One Barista writer doesn’t believe in resolutions, but was nice enough to write one when I asked forced her to. Here’s Stacey Gill’s answer:

I don’t really believe in New Year’s resolutions. Mostly because if you want to do something you should just do it and not wait around for the new year to say you are going to do it and then only do it for the first couple of weeks of January before realizing it takes too much effort which is why you never did it in the first place and give up. For that reason I usually don’t make New Year’s resolutions. But when Georgette Gilmore asks you for a resolution, well, damn it you had better come up with one. For that reason I have a New Year’s resolution this year. My resolution, and I’ve been thinking about this a lot, even before the new year was upon us so it’s not strictly a “New Year’s resolution” – it’s more like a new life resolution – is to spend less time with my kids. I’m not saying I’m going to completely neglect them or anything, but I think it’s past time they become more independent. I get so wrapped up in doing for them, being there for them, helping them, planning and organizing activities for them, I forget to take a step back to gain some perspective. My children are getting older (my daughter is in 5th grade and my son’s not far behind), and as they do they can and should do things for themselves. And they should understand that in a family each member contributes for the whole to function well. If they don’t learn this lesson (gradually) now then when? And if I continue to always do for them how will they learn to do for themselves? How will they learn to appreciate what they have and all they have been given? How will they turn into responsible, confident, self-sufficient young adults?

I would like to spend time with my kids, but time we can all enjoy at a more relaxed pace rather than the harried, frenetic moments that seem to fill every day. If that means less quantity time and more quality time, I’ll take it.

3 Comments

Absolutly nothing!
(He is 27 and a CPA in NYC and is also in NYU Law School. Is a terrific guy, bought his own new luxury car, and dontates time, when he can to the Springfield Emergency Squad and has been credited with helping to save a life. Yes, he lives home with Mom/Dad because he is paying his own way through Law school. Even though he is 27, hw is still our child.

My parenting resolution this year is the same as it’s always been: to try and enjoy my children as much as possible. I’ve probably said it before, here and elsewhere, but I’ve always thought that if you focus on appreciating them every else will follow from that.

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